Education and public awareness

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 43 views

Introduction

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 18% of all cancer deaths. In Indonesia, lung cancer is the second most common cancer among men and the third most common cancer among women. Understanding the characteristics of lung cancer patients is crucial in developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This study aims to describe the characteristics of lung cancer patients who were hospitalized at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital in Medan, Indonesia, from 2016 to 2018.

Methodology

This study employed a descriptive research design with a case series approach. The population studied consisted of 230 patients with lung cancer who were hospitalized at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital from 2016 to 2018. A simple random sampling method was used to select 146 patients as samples. The data collected included demographic information, clinical stage, treatment duration, and patient outcomes. The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test, Mann Whitney, and Kruskal Wallis.

Results

The results of this study showed that the majority of lung cancer patients were male (70.5%), with a median age of 55 years (range: 30-80 years). The highest proportion of patients was found in the age group 45-69 years, accounting for 78.8% of the total sample. The majority of patients were of Batak ethnicity (62.3%), and 57.5% of patients had completed high school or equivalent education. In terms of occupation, 47.3% of patients were entrepreneurs, and 66.4% of patients came from outside the city of Medan.

The majority of patients (75.3%) experienced more than one complaint, with 45.2% of them at stage IV cancer. The average length of treatment in hospitals was 13 days, with 56.8% of patients undergoing chemotherapy and 78.1% of patients going home for street treatment.

Analysis

Further analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the proportion of patient's age based on clinical stage (p = 0.748), or the patient's condition when returning (p = 0.241) and the average time of treatment based on clinical stage (p = 0.146). However, there were significant differences in the length of treatment based on the conditions when returning (p = 0.033).

In terms of education, there was no significant difference in proportion between lung cancer patients based on clinical stages (p = 0.825) and between patient education based on clinical stage (p = 0.602). However, there was a significant difference between the main complaints of lung cancer patients based on clinical stages (p = 0.001).

Discussion

The results of this study highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of lung cancer. The majority of patients in this study were diagnosed at an advanced stage (45.2%), which will certainly affect the prognosis and treatment options that can be done. With an early detection program, it is expected that the incidence of lung cancer can be reduced and the quality of life of patients can be better.

Education and public awareness about lung cancer need to be improved so that more individuals can recognize the initial symptoms and get timely treatment. The involvement of various parties, ranging from hospitals, health offices, to the wider community, is very important to support efforts to prevent and handle lung cancer effectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the characteristics of lung cancer patients who were hospitalized at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital in Medan, Indonesia, from 2016 to 2018. The results of this study highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of lung cancer, and the need for education and public awareness about lung cancer. Further research is needed to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies for lung cancer.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Early detection program: The Medan City Health Office should design an early detection program for lung cancer to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and improve patient outcomes.
Education and public awareness: Education and public awareness about lung cancer need to be improved to enable more individuals to recognize the initial symptoms and get timely treatment.
Collaboration between hospitals and health offices: Collaboration between hospitals and health offices is essential to support efforts to prevent and handle lung cancer effectively.
Research and development: Further research is needed to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies for lung cancer.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Selection bias: The selection of patients for this study may have been biased, which may affect the accuracy of the results.
Data collection: The data collected for this study may have been incomplete or inaccurate, which may affect the validity of the results.

Future Directions

Future studies should aim to:

Increase the sample size: Future studies should aim to increase the sample size to improve the generalizability of the results.
Improve data collection: Future studies should aim to improve data collection to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data.
Develop effective prevention and treatment strategies: Future studies should aim to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies for lung cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lung Cancer Patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital in 2016-2018 =============================================================================================

Q: What is the most common age group of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common age group of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is 45-69 years, accounting for 78.8% of the total sample.

Q: What is the most common ethnicity of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common ethnicity of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is Batak, accounting for 62.3% of the total sample.

Q: What is the most common level of education of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common level of education of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is high school or equivalent, accounting for 57.5% of the total sample.

Q: What is the most common occupation of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common occupation of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is entrepreneur, accounting for 47.3% of the total sample.

Q: What is the most common clinical stage of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common clinical stage of lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is stage IV, accounting for 45.2% of the total sample.

Q: What is the average length of treatment for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The average length of treatment for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is 13 days.

Q: What is the most common treatment modality for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common treatment modality for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is chemotherapy, accounting for 56.8% of the total sample.

Q: What is the most common reason for hospital readmission for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: The most common reason for hospital readmission for lung cancer patients at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital is due to complications related to treatment, such as infection or bleeding.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings for public health policy and practice?

A: The study's findings highlight the need for early detection and treatment of lung cancer, as well as the importance of education and public awareness about lung cancer. The study's findings also suggest that collaboration between hospitals and health offices is essential to support efforts to prevent and handle lung cancer effectively.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including a small sample size, selection bias, and incomplete or inaccurate data collection.

Q: What are the future directions for research on lung cancer at Dr. Pirngadi Regional Hospital?

A: Future studies should aim to increase the sample size, improve data collection, and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies for lung cancer.